Judge rules for church in tax fight

Monday

PANAMA CITY — A judge has ruled that a home owned by a church is exempt from property taxes, which may or may not resolve a long dispute with county officials.

PANAMA CITY — A judge has ruled that a home owned by a church is exempt from property taxes, which may or may not resolve a long dispute with county officials.

Property Appraiser Dan Sowell has not yet decided whether or not he will appeal Judge Hentz McClellan’s order, which was issued Friday.

“The ball’s back in my court now, and I’m giving it a lot of thought and prayer about whether or not I will appeal,” Sowell said Monday.

The 10,000 square-foot, five-bedroom, six-bathroom home would generate about $37,000 in property taxes this year if it was not owned by Faith Christian Family Church, but it is.

The church, arguing that the property is a parsonage used to house minister Markus Bishop and his family, brought a lawsuit in 2004 after former property appraiser Rick Barnett attempted to tax the property.

McClellan initially ruled the property was exempt from taxes late last year, and Sowell filed a motion asking him to reconsider. McClellan reconsidered and came to the same conclusion.

Faith Christian Family Church filed for bankruptcy in 2011, and court records indicate the property was purchased last month for $100 by SunTrust Bank.

An attorney representing the church didn’t return a call seeking comment Monday.

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